Girl Scouts: IMPORTANT Summer and 2020-21 questions

Hi everyone!

I hope you're all staying safe and sound and healthy!

Now that things are opening up some, a whole bunch of things popped up that I need to hear from you about, so I'll just get to it.  (Please let me know ASAP, and just skip any of the questions you don't have an opinion on.)

#1)  Cookies--A few of you mentioned you'd be interested in selling a few more cookies, so I did keep some on hand.  Yesterday Girl Scouts announced that family-run cookie booths will be allowed this weekend and next.  (Think like lemonade stand booths.) Scouts/families would be responsible for keeping people separated, and making sure that distancing was maintained, etc.  Scouts/families would also be responsible for securing locations (in other words, if we wanted a booth at a Pick n Save for example, we'd have to coordinate with the store ourselves) BUT, booths wouldn't be limited to just stores.  So if you wanted to set up a cookie booth at a street corner (like a Lemonade stand) that would be OK too.

If anyone wants to do that sort of thing, let me know and I can get you the stuff I use for booths (banner, tables, tablecloths, etc.) on a first-come-first-served basis. As well as the exact booth guidelines that scouts sent me.  

Also, if anyone has any last cookie connections they want to sell to, now's the last time for me to transfer cookies over to you.  I'll be submitting our final cookie counts next Monday, so what's sold by then is what's sold by then.  (If you think your scout was close to a particular prize level and want to make sure she gets there, let me know and I can double check/confirm numbers.)

So question #1 is:  Is anyone who was still interested in selling cookies a month ago STILL interested in selling cookies now?

#2)  4th of July.  The 4th of July Parade coodinator asked me if Girl scouts will be doing the 4th of July Parade this year.  I told her I would check with the troop and see what you all thought.  Personally, I would rather not encourage the kind of grouping and bunching and disease-spreading that the parade is sure to involve.  But, if, as parents, many of you want to have the girls participate, and march/throw candy, then I can support that.  At this level the troop is "girl led" with parents providing safety and guidance.  So if the girls want to parade, and parents consider it safe, then we'll figure out the best and safest way to make it happen.

Alternately, if the girls can come up with a way to celebrate the 4th in a different way, that would be great too.  (For example, Evie's Air Patrol Unit held a virtual memorial day event where the cadets memorialized a local Airman who had received the medal of honor for his service; cadets shared his story, and considered how they could apply that story to their own lives.) 

And of course, the Parade still might be canceled--I think it's on the agenda for the Tuesday Village Board meeting.

So question #2 is:  Do you think we should march in the 4th of July Parade, and if not, would any girls have ideas for alternate ways to celebrate?

#3)  Summer fun?  This is an easy one:  Just a call out for ideas of scout things to do this summer that would be fun but could also be done spread out!  Some early ideas--

• Beach/park clean ups (we can all be in the same area at the same time for sure but we don't have to get too close to each other!)  And we can have a pizza party picnic afterwards instead of inside a restaurant!
• Archery at Whitnall Park (I have all the materials, and we can keep some distance while shooting)

So question #3 is:  Do you have any ideas for fun things we can do as Girl Scouts that would keep us spread out, but still together?

#4)  September Campout?  As of now, the September Girl Scout Weekend Campout at Silverbrook is still on (the camp is all reserved for our service unit) and I'll need to get a headcount in soon-ish.  Dates are:  September 11-12-13, running as usual:  Activities during the day Saturday (this year Axe Throwing is on the menu!!!) with the option to sleep over Friday or Saturday night or both nights.

So question #4 is:  Are any scouts/parents interested in the Campout in September? 

#5)  Final one, I think:  Next year?  Since registration costs are $50 again this year, and since the troop covers that for girls continuing on, it's important to know who plans to participate again in 2020-2021 so we're not spending the girls' money on a registration that won't be used.

So question #5 is:  Who is planning to continue scouting in 2020-2021? 

I think that's all, so here's a recap of the 5 questions for today, please reply ASAP:

So question #1 is:  Is anyone who was still interested in selling cookies a month ago STILL interested in selling cookies now?

So question #2 is:  Do you think we should march in the 4th of July Parade, and if not, would any girls have ideas for alternate ways to celebrate?

So question #3 is:  Do you have any ideas for fun things we can do as Girl Scouts that would keep us spread out, but still together?

So question #4 is:  Are any scouts/parents interested in the Campout in September? 

So question #5 is:  Who is planning to continue scouting in 2020-2021? 

Thanks everyone, let's see if we can still make it a scouting summer!

Aleks

Girl Scouts: Even better--I was doing it wrong!

I was a bad direction follower in the Disney acting course.

Everything you need is in the .pdf I attached or you download from Disney.  Just read along, and click the link icons (look like 2 links from a chain colored orangish brown) wherever they appear and it'll take you right to whatever you need right when you need it!

Very cool!!

Aleks

Girl Scouts: Sorry to bombard you lately; but this is amazing, and perfect for some of our girls!

Hi everyone,

Sorry to keep filling your inbox, but I wanted to make sure I got this to you guys right away!

(Also, if anyone tried to use the HitPlayChicago link to do the virtual field trip of Shedd Aquarium earlier today and it wasn't working, it's updated now with the Shedd Aquarium video and supplemental activities.)

But onto the newest and coolest thing!

Disney has started offering its online theater course based around the Broadway version of "The Lion King" for free!   Since a lot of our girls are into forensics, drama, or other performance arts, this seems PERFECT for them.  It's hosted by the actor and actress who played Nala and Simba on Broadway and covers basically every aspect of acting from blocking, to costumes, to performance, and more!

Some things you might have to adjust in the lesson plans a bit to make work at home (this was originally a lesson plan Disney made for drama teachers) for example in the first session there's an activity where it tells you to break the class into 9 groups--which will be difficult for most of us!  But I think our girls are creative enough to figure out work-arounds and still get something out of the program.

Also, if it ever asks you to Log In or anything like that, you shouldn't actually have to.  Just go back to the original link and go from there to the segment you want to use.  It seems like they're still adjusting the websites from their usual paid status. 

I've attached the .pdf of the course.  It'll take a while to work through--but it really seems to be a very good learning tool for acting if you're into that, or just having Disney/Lion King fun if that's more your thing.  The activities included cover both basic learning and "level up" challenges for kids that would want to stretch their acting muscles a little more.

If you'd rather download directly from Disney, here's the link.  Once you download the Jr. .pdf, close the orange box and the videos/classes will show up.

Disney THE LION KING EXPERIENCE

Disney THE LION KING EXPERIENCE I'm exploring theater with my students using #LionKingExperience

And OF COURSE I'll have patches (when they're available) if any of the girls work their way through it!

Aleks

Girl Scouts: A couple fun things to do!

Hi everyone!

Thanks to everyone who did some cleaning up and/or garlic mustard picking for Earth Day (or around Earth Day).  Greendale appreciates your effort!

I found a couple more fun things for our girls to do if they're getting bored--and if they've run out of YouTube...

Discovery World has a nice selection of Science at Home activities; and since our girls are DW fans, this is right up their alley!

https://www.discoveryworld.org/discovery-world-home/

There's a ton of great at-home science to goof around with, and you might accidentally learn something along the way.

Second, this still involves a screen, but should be worth it: the City of Chicago is starting a "Hit Play Chicago" webseries that takes tours of Chicago museums and destinations with the mayor of Chicago.  The first one is tomorrow (Wednesday) at noon and will be a tour and back scenes look at Shedd Aquarium.  It sounds like there'll be at-home activities kids can do along with the tours, if you're ambitious and want to treat it like a virtual field trip at school!

https://www.hitplaychicago.org/

Keep active and learning!

Aleks

Girl Scouts: An opportunity to help out!

Hi,

I just got this from United Way.  If your family qualifies to help (see below) this could be a great way to stay busy and make a difference!

Aleks

(see below)

----- Forwarded Message -----

From: United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County <liveunited@unitedwaygmwc.org>

To: "kwaterk1978@yahoo.com" <kwaterk1978@yahoo.com>

Sent: Thursday, April 23, 2020, 02:44:53 PM CDT

Subject: Volunteers needed! Join the movement to #MaskUpMKE

Web Version

In this moment of unprecedented need, our community has set a goal: Create 3.5 million no-sew masks for local healthcare providers and other essential service workers. And to achieve this goal, we need YOU. Volunteers are invited to pick up a mask kit from Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, take the kit home to assemble the no-sew masks, then return the assembled masks to Fiserv Forum. To learn more and sign up, click here. In order to ensure masks are safe to be distributed throughout our community, volunteers must meet specific requirements to be eligible to assemble masks. You must confirm that all statements below are true for you and anyone in your household/facility where masks will be made. I have not tested positive for COVID-19 at any time. I have not experienced any symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, shortness of breath) in the past 4 weeks. I have not come into contact with anyone testing positive for COVID-19 in the past 2 weeks. I have not, to my knowledge, been exposed to or come into contact with someone with or presumed to have COVID-19 in the past two weeks. I am not a smoker or have a history of lung disease (or any other disease that makes you more likely to get a respiratory infection). I am not a health care worker who has been in contact with patients in the past 2 weeks. I am not an essential worker who comes into daily contact with the public in an environment where social distancing is not possible (grocery worker, bus driver, etc). I have followed CDC guidelines to avoid infection (stay home as much as possible, keep 6 feet away from others, and wash hands frequently).   United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County is proud to partner on #MaskUpMKE with the Milwaukee Bucks, Medical College of Wisconsin, Greater Milwaukee Foundation, Zilber Family Foundation, Ignite Change, Fiserv Forum, Rebel Converting, Habitat for Humanity, and other community partners.   Was this forwarded to you by a friend? Subscribe to the newsletter. 414.263.8100 | www.unitedwaygmwc.org Copyright © 2020 | United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County | All rights reserved.

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Girl Scouts: Earth Day! And Cookie Question?

Hi everyone!

I hope you're all staying safe.  Just checking back in with some Girl Scout Fun and a question.

One of our troop traditions on Earth Day is to explore our surroundings and 

A)  Clean up garbage in our community, and

B)  Clean up the garlic mustard invasive species and turn it into delicious garlic mustard pesto!

So, if you're looking for something to do tomorrow, get Girl Scouting!  You don't need me to tell you how to grab a garbage bag and pick up trash, but if you want or need a grabber or some garbage bags, I'll leave some out on our porch tomorrow.  Take a picture of you doing some cleaning up and I'll get an Earth Day patch for you (as soon as I can!)

And if you want to remove some invasive species and turn them into a delicious snack, here's information on finding Garlic Mustard and the recipe to pesto-ize it:  (By now a lot of the girl are experts though!)

https://abetterwaytothrive.com/foraging-for-garlic-mustard-plus-garlic-mustard-pesto-recipe/

Finally, a cookie question.

I still have cookies in my living room that had been ready for our last cookie booths (Discovery World and Pick n Save.)

We have a choice of what to do with them:

1)  Hold onto them until the world is reopened and reschedule cookie booths for then.

2) We have a one time offer from Girl Scouts:  if we donate cookies to an organization helping people, they will write them off and we won't be responsible for them (we won't make money off of them, and they won't count towards prizes, but we won't be charged for them either.)

In either case, girls can keep selling online for cookie share, and we can split between the two options if we want to keep selling when the doors are open again.

So what I need to know from all of you:

Who would be interested in selling cookies when the doors are open again?  (If you need to know where you are in relation to selling totals and prizes, I can send you that info too.)

Aleks

Girl Scouts: This is kind of scout-y and fun! Squirrel Census!

Hi everyone!

With the nicer weather, I know we're all thinking about things to do outside that don't involve interacting with other people.  I just got this from the County Parks, and I think the girls might love it!  (Plus, it helps the parks and community, so there's that too.)

Take Part in the Milwaukee County Squirrel Census How many squirrels are in Milwaukee County? We're going to try and find out with a fun, new #staysafeathome community squirrel census. To take part, simply go to www.countyparksmke.com/SquirrelCensus and add the Squirrel Census web app to your phone homescreen (it will also work in a web browser). After you create a profile, watch for squirrels in your garden, neighborhood or local park, and fill in the form on the app with each sighting to earn digital badges. Visit https://mkecoparks.helpscoutdocs.com/article/341-squirrel-census for more information.